Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Pierre Desarmes must have felt a wave of relief as he
loaded his family onto an airplane. Two weeks earlier
this 34-year-old man was in Port-au-Prince, Haiti when
the earthquakes struck.

He and members of his family were glad to be alive, but
their world was in shambles. Now they were headed for
peace and security — in Chile.

This unfortunate Haitian family had been in their new
home barely a month when the stronger earthquake came
calling. Now the family sleeps outside, afraid to go
inside buildings where walls might collapse on top of
them.

Stanley Desarmes, Pierre's younger brother, is frantic.
"I don't know what I can do, but staying isn't
possible," he said. "I could die and I could lose my
family. I have to leave. I don't know where, I don't
know how. But I don't want to die with my family here,"
he was quoted as saying in an Associated Press story on
March 4, 2010.

Our hearts go out to all of the victims of the
earthquakes, both in Haiti and in Chile. But how can we
imagine the confusion and fear of these who have gone
through both disasters?

Near the end of his ministry, Jesus warned of a time of
devastation.

   "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by
   armies, then know that its desolation is
   near. Then let those who are in Judea flee
   to the mountains, let those who are in the
   midst of her depart, and let not those who
   are in the country enter her" (Luke
   21:20,21, NKJV).

Eusebius, writing over 200 years after Jesus' prophecy,
recorded how Christians fled Jerusalem during the brief
pullback of the Roman army surrounding the city. By
fleeing to the town of Pella they found the peace that
no one who stayed behind would enjoy.

Jesus made another statement about peace in this world
that applies to us. In John 16:33 he stated: "These
things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have
peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be
of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Those whose faith in Jesus led them to flee Jerusalem
in A.D. 70 found peace. Those who act upon their faith
by fleeing to Jesus to escape the tribulations of the
world will find peace. Guaranteed. We'll still be
surrounded by turmoil in the material realm, but our
spirits can be calm and secure.

"… And his name will be called wonderful, counselor,
mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace"
(Isaiah 9:6).

 

Tim Hall

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